Category: Race Report

Langmay Trophy Concludes the Season

Following on from last week’s Stag Trophy finale we had one final event to conclude the 2019/20 season.

The traditional Boxing Day handicap that has been the Easter handicap in recent years migrated (hopefully for just one year!) to the late summer. It was also no longer a head to head race but a virtual one spread over nine days where competitors ran the route and we took the times from the Strava segment.

None of this is ideal for anyone; the route is far more interesting if you’re having a battle with a teammate rather than battling round on your own and as we all know, segments can be inconsistent in their time recording. However, it was the same for everyone and there was a serious trophy up for grabs. read more

BMAF Relays

The BMAF is the British Masters Athletic Federation. They organise a number of events across the country, targeted at the more mature athlete! The cover all aspects of athletics and embrace all age-groups from 35 years and up. In the UK the traditional age to be a Vet is 40, but around the world 35 is the consistent threshold to start looking at people of your own age and the term “Masters” tends to be used rather than veteran.

Anyway. The BMAF national relays have been going on for a long time and usually take place in Sutton park in Birmingham. We have considered doing them a few times, but haven’t really pushed it. However, with this year’s unusual situation, there was no reason why we couldn’t join in with the virtual version in our own back yard. read more

Virtual National Road Relay Championships

Virtual National Road Relay Championships

4-9 April 2020

What started up as a small idea to replace the National Road Relay 5k Championships became a national sensation with over 5000 athletes of all abilities entering. As always, LBAC, not wanting to miss out on these things and mix the big clubs, got involved!

Firstly, we had 32 individuals from the club entering a time. Two of these ran their first ever run for the club, albeit a slightly strange one all alone! Well done and welcome to Nicola Mellor and Michael Lovell.

A second thing to note before we look in more detail at the final results, is how may people posted some fast times, with some even posting PBs. Particularly impressive when these runs were done alone with nobody to race against. For these people, we definitely need to see you entering a proper 5k race when this is all over! read more

Thirty Trips and Counting

The rain was lashing the car as we overtook some bedraggled cyclists after cresting a hill in the middle of the island. It was early on a November Saturday afternoon and we hadn’t come to Lanzarote for British weather! As we headed back towards the coast, the rain eased and finally ceased almost at the moment we got our first view of Club La Santa sitting adjacent to the lagoon in solitary splendour.

Our family of four, together with four ladies from LBAC, a small MKAC family and a random Irishman were the final arrivals in our 32 strong group that had gone to “Grotty” for holiday with a bit of running included. It was the 30th time that LBAC had trip for the event and remarkably there are still a few going who were there in 1990 for the second International Challenge. As you would expect, much has changed in the intervening years, but the atmosphere remains pretty similar. read more

Get Dirrrty!

Eastern Athletics XC and British & Irish Masters’ International XC

by Pete Mackrell

Last Saturday was evidently a day for dirty running. Close to home, 10 members completed the Dirt Half whilst further away, 10 more were competing in cross country. Of those, a hardy bunch of eight men and one girl made the trip over to Keysoe to participate in the Eastern Athletics Cross Country Championship.

The Eastern Athletic Association is a curious thing; it consists of the geographically diverse counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire. It organises various events including an annual cross-country championship which dates back to 1937 (for the men, women have been included from 1992!). It used to be a high-profile event and it has some high-profile former winners, however in recent years it has fallen from grace somewhat, participation has dropped and some years it wasn’t held at all. This seems a shame, although perhaps it’s inevitable with so many events on the calendar. read more

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